How to balance family and household?????

Question

I am a 1st time mom of a toddler, and since he began running around, I've had to struggle with him and the housework sometimes. (Don't get me wrong, my house IS clean, it's just I usually have to wait til he's asleep to get anything done.) We have older roomates (huge house) that help with dishes and clean up after themeslves (but I don't trust them to sit), and I hate leaving him alone while I clean because he fusses, cries, etc. but I refuse to keep a dirty house and this just isn't working like is. Also, I've tried taking him in with me while I clean and that takes up more time trying to keep an eye on him.
Do any moms of toddlers that had or understand my difficulty, have any suggestions?

BTW, my son is 19 mos old, not 10

and I do let him cry, but when nothing can safely secure him (he's advanced and climbs out of the playpen, crib, and has learned to un-fasten the straps of pretty much everything, and his carseat is topheavy I guess, will not sit up with him in it unless strapped in car)

Answer 1

You're going to have to accept the fact that it takes more time to do things now. It's just part of having a small, active child.

Let him "help" fold laundry. Sit in the floor to do it and let him play in the pile of clothes. (Or do it sitting on the bed and he can practice climbing up and down.)

Let him "help" dust by giving him a rag.

Don't start any job that will take more than 15 minutes unless he is asleep or you have someone else home to help with him.

Reprioritize. Food to eat and clean clothes to wear should be at the top of the list. With an active toddler, clean floors probably comes close behind that. Some things may have to be allowed to slide until weekends when Dad is home or become just a monthly task, etc.

Put Dad in charge of bathtime and while he is bathing your toddler, that's usually a good time to sweep, mop or vacuum.

ETA:
Always remember this simple rule.....
People before things.

Answer 2

In order to get the housework done sometimes you just have to let him cry. Put him somewhere where he will be safe. Such as the swing, exersaucer, you could even strap him into the carseat. That way you don't have to worry about him getting into anything and you can clean. If he cries, it's annoying but he's ok. It's good for them to learn that it's not the end of the world if you're not in their face every second.

Answer 3

Hi Brandy,
One of the most valuable things my childrens pediatrician taught me was to have a nice schedule that allows the childs body to flow. Our bodies have a rhythm just like the moon and the ocean. Rise early in the morning and start your day. At 7am feed him a good breakfast (still pureed if he hasn't gotten 4 of his back teeth to chew and grind food properly). Then dress him and give him a few toys on the floor of the kitchen while you clean up breakfast. Be sure and eat your meals with him. Then, take him out to play about 10 am. Stroll to the park and have him walk as much as possible. The body NEEDs exercise and children need this to tire them and release tension in their muscles that sometimes exhibits as aggression or whineyness. Bring him in and feed him a good filling lunch with protein, 1 veg. and fruit. Lay him down for a nap at 1 or 1:30pm. You can care for your home so well during this time and it is important, esp, if you have other children and a nice husband. At 3-4 be sure and wake him if he doesn't wake himself. Read him a short book, and give him some toys and let him follow you around while you talk to him about everything. Begin your dinner around 5 and have him play on the kitchen floor again with some plastic bowls and spoons or pots. At 6 feed him a filling dinner, like lunch and let him sit at the table in his high chair while you and the family have a good meal, always talking and enjoying yourself. At 6:30 or 7 give him a good bath, playing and talking, and put him to bed. He needs 12 hours of sleep every nite to be happy and well rested for the next day. This will give you time to visit with your husband and finish dinner dishes and time for you to rest. I know this will work. I had 4 children and 12 foster newborns. A wise old pediatrician taught me this.

Answer 4

We all share this frustration. This is the time where you can begin to teach him about clean up time. You will get most of your cleaning done when he is down for a nap or for the night, but he can help. Make up a special song that involves the two of you getting the house tidy. Start small. He will be learning how to put things back, order, and responsibility. Give it a try.

Answer 5

hey sweetie, before you start to clean, make sure you 10 month old is not hungry or needs a diaper change. Once that is done, put him in a neutral spot. (if you can confine him in a play pen or walker great) Then you get him lots of easy to clean up toys. After this is done you start to clean. Yes, he will get upset and yes he will cry. But he needs nothing. It will be okay for him to cry a little. HE might try and cry you out the first few times..be patient and consistant. Your 10 month old will get over it. Good Luck.

Answer 6

You're not alone...what i do is I will put on a DVD that he likes and try to quickly do my chores or I allow him to join me...LOL! He's 2 1/2 yr old and loves to vacuum so I let him play with that while I go on to do something else. Ofcourse I have to keep my eye out on him. Have fun with him...They grow so fast. Don't worry if your home isn't 100% spotless...if you do worry, you will miss out on alot of "fun" times and just be a stressed out lady that can't relax at all. Put some music on, dance & sing with your son while your cleaning. It really is all how you look at it.

Enjoy!

God Bless!

Answer 7

It is definetely harder by far. First off, sometimes kids need to cry, it doesn't kill them. Second, I had my daughter cleaning up 2 of her toys at a time by 10 months old. By two years she would be aware of messes she made and try to clean it up (no sucessfully, but she would try). Now at 7 I have a little helper... part of living in my house is pitching in.